Liberal Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Simeon Acoba is leaving the bench next month because he hit the state’s mandatory retirement age of 70, so Gov. Neil Abercrombie told everyone today that he wants liberal Judge Michael D. Wilson to take Acoba’s spot.

“Both on and off the bench, Judge Wilson is a well-respected leader,” Abercrombie said in a Feb. 18 press release. “He brings a wealth of experience, having served as an attorney and Circuit Court judge. The Constitution and our kuleana responsibilities to it will be in good hands.”

According to Abercrombie’s press release, Wilson, 60, “has served on the First Judicial Circuit since 2000, presiding over the felony trial calendar, drug court and mental health court. Previously, he was a chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources and Commission, commissioner for the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission and executive director for the state Division of Consumer Advocacy.”

Wilson graduated from Kailua High School, and earned a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin and a J.D. from the Antioch School of Law, according to the news release.